At Mill Lane, we believe that science is an essential part of every child’s learning. Our approach to science aims to spark curiosity, develop critical thinking, and inspire children to wonder about and explore the world around them.
Our ethos: Learning through doing
We believe that children learn best when they are actively involved in their learning. By giving the children the chance to explore, experiment, and investigate, we hope to foster a love of science, which continues even outside the classroom. Where possible, we also like to make cross-curricular links with subjects like maths, literacy, and music, not only to enhance learning, but to show how science can apply to all areas of our lives!
We take an enquiry-based approach to teaching science, where children are encouraged to ask questions, and look for the answers through scientific investigation. Whether it’s investigating forces, exploring habitats, or looking for material properties, we try to be as practical as possible.
How we teach Science at Mill Lane
Where possible, our science lessons involve lots of investigating, and children show off their work in a variety of ways – by making videos, posters, etc. This approach encourages independence, allowing the children to take ownership over their learning, and engage deeply with the subject. By moving beyond worksheets, we foster an environment where the children can really ‘get stuck in’, and create memorable experiences.
Each year, we arrange a ‘Science Week’, with visitors coming in to show off various areas of science – last year, we had a planetarium, exotic animals, a silly science workshop, to name a few. We also have a whole-school science investigation day, where everyone approaches the same idea with their own spin. Last year, we all investigated helicopter spinners, and which variables we could change to make them fall faster or slower. We all had a lot of fun, and we were able to see how differently each year group approached the investigation, using their scientific enquiry skills.
